US3956941A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Escapement-type drive mechanism for watches and the like
Assignee: Les Fabriques dAssortiments Reunies SA FAR
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Filing: 1974-12-18
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Granted: 1976-05-18
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Expires: 1994-12-18
Abstract
Abstract An escapement-type drive mechanism for watches and the like comprises an escapement wheel formed with a circumferential array of teeth spaced apart by respective radial slots and having displacement faces inclined to respective radii. An angularly oscillatable inverse anchor-shaped lever is engageable with the wheel for intermittently rotating it. The lever is formed with a pair of spaced-apart pallets (pins) mounted for lost motion on the lever and alternately engageable with the faces and receivable in the slots to step the wheel upon angular oscillation of the lever. Magnetic means on the lever yieldably biases each of the pallets in a respective direction of its lost motion relative to the lever.
Inventors
- 👤 Christian Faivre
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:41
CPC Classifications
G; G04; G04C; G04C3/00; G04C3/04; G04C3/06; G04C3/061; G04B; G04B15/00; G04B15/14; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/15; Y10T74/1502
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An escapement-type drive mechanism comprising: an escapement wheel formed with a circumferential array of teeth spaced apart by respective radial slots and displacement faces inclined to respective radii; an angularly oscillatable lever engageable with said wheel for intermittently rotating same, said lever being formed with a pair of spaced-apart pallets mounted for lost motion on said lever and alternately engageable with said faces and receivable in said slots to step said wheel upon angular oscillation of said lever; and magnetic means on said lever yieldably biasing each of said pallets in a respective direction of its lost motion relative to said lever, said lever being formed with a pair of elements each carrying a respective one of said pallets, and a single member fixed on said lever and magnetically cooperating with both said elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
An escapement-type drive mechanism comprising: an escapement wheel formed with a circumferential array of teeth spaced apart by respective radial slots and displacement faces inclined to respective radii; an angularly oscillatable lever engageable with said wheel for intermittently rotating same, said lever being formed with a pair of spaced-apart pallets mounted for lost motion on said lever and alternately engageable with said faces and receivable in said slots to step said wheel upon angular oscillation of said lever; and magnetic means on said lever yieldably biasing each of said pallets in a respective direction of its lost motion relative to said lever, said lever being formed with a pair of elements each carrying a respective one of said pallets, and a single member fixed on said lever and magnetically cooperating with both said elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said elements are composed of metal of high magnetic permability and said member is a permanent magnet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The mechanism defined in claim 1 wherein said member is a material of high magnetic permeability and said elements are permanent magnets.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
163 words
An escapement-type drive mechanism comprising: an escapement wheel formed with a circumferential array of teeth spaced apart by respective radial slots and displacement faces inclined to respective radii; an angularly oscillatable lever engageable with said wheel for intermittently rotating same, said lever being formed with a pair of spaced-apart pallets mounted for lost motion on said lever and alternately engageable with said faces and receivable in said slots to step said wheel upon angular oscillation of said lever; and magnetic means on said lever yieldably biasing each of said pallets in a respective direction of its lost motion relative to said lever, said lever being formed with a pair of elements each carrying a respective one of said pallets, and a member fixed on said lever and magnetically cooperating with said elements, said lever being formed with a pair of pins alternatively engageable between teeth of said wheel for locking said wheel relative to said lever in alternate extreme positions of said lever.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
163 words
An escapement-type drive mechanism comprising: an escapement wheel formed with a circumferential array of teeth spaced apart by respective radial slots and displacement faces inclined to respective radii; an angularly oscillatable lever engageable with said wheel for intermittently rotating same, said lever being formed with a pair of spaced-apart pallets mounted for lost motion on said lever and alternately engageable with said faces and receivable in said slots to step said wheel upon angular oscillation of said lever; and magnetic means on said lever yieldably biasing each of said pallets in a respective direction of its lost motion relative to said lever, said lever being formed with a pair of elements each carrying a respective one of said pallets, and a member fixed on said lever and magnetically cooperating with said elements, said lever being formed with a pair of pins alternatively engageable between teeth of said wheel for locking said wheel relative to said lever in alternate extreme positions of said lever.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The mechanism defined in claim 4 wherein said elements are bellcrank levers pivotally mounted on said lever and having free arms reaching toward said member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
48 words
The mechanism defined in claim 5 wherein said lever is formed with a pair of recesses respectively receiving said pallets and having at least one flank engageable with the respective pallet upon the contact of the latter with a respective face of a tooth to step said wheel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The mechanism defined in claim 6, further comprising a pair of abutments flanking said lever and defining extreme angular positions thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The mechanism defined in claim 7, further comprising magnetic means for releasably retaining said lever alternately against said abutments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
The mechanism in claim 8 wherein said lever has a fork and said mechanism further comprises a balance wheel engageable with said fork to oscillate said lever.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-05-18 | 1979-11-17 | 1980-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-05-18 | 1983-11-17 | 1984-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-05-18 | 1987-11-17 | 1988-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |